The Manton Seniors’ longstanding tradition has been shattered.
For more than two decades, the group – one of the state’s top-ranking independent senior citizens organizations – has selected a royal couple whose identities were known only to president Lorie DeVito until the annual St. Valentine’s-St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance.
So Sunday, DeVito – who was backed by the soft sounds of the famed Calamari Brothers trio – confessed: “Our tradition has been broken; we no longer have married couples who we can select as our annual king and queen.”
However, as DeVito quipped: “We’re all getting older, and a change is sometimes good.”
Almost instantly, noted saxophonist Vinny Lato pumped a few soulful sounds into the Willow Room inside Twelve Acres Restaurant in Smithfield, as DeVito began to announce the first-ever non-married couple as the Manton Seniors king and queen.
“Our king for 2019 is Al Vinnari, and our queen is Delores Etchells,” DeVito announced. “They are – and have for years – been a wonderful and loving couple.”
Vinnari was stunned with the announcement and covered his face to hide a few tears of joy. Etchells simply broke into tears, even as her eyes filled with excitement.
Vinnari and Etchells have been Manton Seniors members for as along as DeVito and others can remember. They’re also popular faces whenever the senior social group holds one of its patented dinner/dance events.
Moreover, as DeVito said while helping 2018 king and queen, Manny and Zoila Guerra, present the crowns and capes: “Delores and Al are probably one of our best dancing couples here. They’re almost always the first couple on the dance floor, even before dinner is served.”
Once the formal portion of the presentation was complete, DeVito asked the royal couple to select a song for the traditional royal dance.
Etchells and Vinnari were still overcome with the surprise at the announcement, so drummer Tony DelSignore and Lato suggested “Fascination,” a waltz song Fermo Dante Marchetti from 1905 that has been performed by legends like Nat King Cole.
“Perfect,” DeVito said.
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